Rishikesh

RISHIKESH - UTTARAKHAND TRAVEL GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

The Garhwal region of north India is speckled with some of the holiest of Hindu pilgrimage sites and Rishikesh is one such major attractions. Crowded with sadhus with long matted hair and pilgrims from all over the globe, Rishikesh is the birthplace of yoga. It attracts thousands of tourists every year, who come to seek mental peace in the midst of the humdrum of modern life. The various ghats and temples assist the human spirit in its endeavor to be one with the ultimate source of all creations. It is also an attraction for the ones in search of adventure and passion.

Location

Rishikesh is located in the northern part of Uttar Pradesh. It is 238 km northeast of Delhi and 24 km north of Haridwar and spreads on the right banks of the Ganges, at its confluence with the Chandrabhaga stream.It is surrounded by hills on three sides and is perched at an altitude of 356 meters above sea level. The name Rishikesh is loosely applied to an association of five distinct sections encompassing not only the town but also hamlets and settlements on both sides of the river. These include Rishikesh itself, the commercial and communication hub; the sprawling suburban Muni-ki-Reti or the “sands of the sages”; Shivananda Nagar, north of Rishikesh; the temple section of Lakshmanjhula, a little further north; and the assorted ashrams around Swarg Ashram on the east bank. In Rishikesh, the winters last from November to March, when temperatures fall below 0°C. The monsoons are generally experienced in the months of July and August.

History

Legend has it that the sage Raibhya Rishi did severe penance and, as a reward, God appeared to him in the form of Hrishikesh. Rishikesh also represents the site where Lord Vishnu vanquished the demon Madhu. The place is known as the Tapo Bhumi or the place for meditation of the Gods. Tapovan, on the other bank of the Ganges, houses a temple to Lakshmana. It is believed that Lakshmana, the younger brother of Lord Rama, carried out penances here. The Neelkanth Mahadev temple is believed to be the site where Lord Shiva had drunk the venom that came out during the churning of the ocean. In the 1960s, the place came into limelight as the place where the pop group Beatles met their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

How to Reach :

1.By Road :

Rishikesh is connected by road via Haridwar with Agra, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Kullu, Manali, and Shimla. It is also linked to Mussourie (77 km), Badrinath (301 km), Kedarnath (228 km), Gangotri (258 km), Yamunotri (288 km), Srinagar (105 km), and Joshimath (252 km). We would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for the local transportations and also for the intercity drives too.

2.By Train :

Rishikesh is connected by rail via Haridwar (24 km) to Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dehradun and other cities.

3.By Air :

The nearest airport is Dehradun, 35 km from Haridwar.

Best Time to Visit :

Rishikesh can be visited anytime of the year. Nestled at the foothills of Himalayas along the River Ganga, the quaint hill town enjoys pleasant weather all around the year. The best months to visit are March to June and September-October. The town has reputation of not just being a holy site but also an adventure hub. In religious terms the Hindu month of Savan, July-August is the best time for pilgrims. For adventures of river rafting, trekking, bungee jumping, rock climbing, flying fox, etc, the pleasant months of March to June and October to November are the best. Monsoons are avoided. Rains in the hilly terrain are dangerous and not apt for visit.

Places to Visit :

Rishikesh abounds in temples. Most of the pilgrims who pass through Rishikesh on their way to the Himalayan shrines of the Char Dham pause for a holy dip and puja at Triveni Ghat, in the central part of the town. The river here looks especially spectacular during aarti (evening worship) when diyas or oil lamps float on the water. Nearby is the Bharat Mandir, Rishikesh’s oldest temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The Chandreshwar temple stands at the confluence of the Chandrabhaga and the Ganges. The Hanuman Mandir is flocked by a large number of devotees on Tuesday.

The dense-knit complex of cafés, shops and ashrams collectively known as Swarg Ashram, opposite Shivananda Nagar, is the most attractive part of Rishikesh, backing on to forested hills where caves are still inhabited by sadhus or hermits. The large courtyard of the Parmarth Ashram here is crammed with brightly clad statues of gods and goddesses. Around 2 km north of Swarg Ashram, a path skirts the east bank of the river en route to Lakshman Jhula. The Lakshman Jhula is a 450-feet-long suspension bridge and was built in 1939. The Lakshman Temple on the west bank has been built to commemorate the journey of Lakshmana across the river on a jute rope. Many of the temples and ashrams around both ends of the bridge-such as the extraordinary Kailashananda Ashram, with each of its thirteen stories dedicated to a different deity-are always filled with devotees. It is a pleasant 2-km walk from this place to the Shivananda Jhula. Ganga Museum has one of the richest collections of Mughal and Rajput paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries. The tomb of Fateh Jang, built in honor of one of Shahjahan’s ministers, combines Islamic and Hindu architectural features. The Jaisamand Lake is a large artificial lake constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1910 and makes an excellent picnic spot. The Vijay Mandir Palace is the royal residence of Maharaja Jai Singh, uninhabited except for old retainers. This palace serves as a window to the lifestyle of the princes.